DOT&E FY2000 Annual Report
OBJECTIVE INDIVIDUAL COMBAT WEAPON (OICW)
 |
| Army ACAT III Program | Prime Contractor | |
| Total Number of Rounds: | Over $1M | Alliant Techsystems |
| Total Program Cost (TY$): | $772M (Current POM) | |
| Average Unit Cost (TY$): | <$30 per round - ATD threshold | |
| Full-rate production: | FY06 |
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2020
The Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) is to be the next-generation infantry weapon to replace the 5.56 mm M16A2 assault rifle, M4 carbine, and M249 squad automatic weapon, along with the 40mm M203 grenade launcher. OICW will fire high explosive air bursting munitions (20 mm) and light-weight kinetic energy projectiles (NATO 5.56 mm). The new capabilities of this weapon system will support precision engagement and dominant maneuver by dismounted forces in Joint Vision 2020.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This system constitutes the weapon sub-system portion of the Land Warrior program. As a result of the Live Fire Test Oversight for Small and Medium Caliber Ammunition group's meetings, OICW (specifically, the high explosive air bursting munition) was identified as an LFT&E candidate and placed under DOT&E oversight in December 1996.
This program passed its Milestone (MS) I review in February 2000, transitioning from Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) status into its Program Definition and Risk Reduction (PDRR) phase. An approved LFT&E strategy for OICW was included in the TEMP supporting this milestone. Dedicated Live Fire tests are expected to occur in FY06.
During an ATD demonstration test in FY99, a high-explosive, airbursting munition experienced an ignition anomaly-causing personnel injury. A root cause analysis was completed in FY00, and a Milestone Ia decision has been scheduled for 1QFY02, to ensure that adequate fixes have been implemented before continuing through PDRR.
TEST & EVALUATION ACTIVITY
LFT&E activity during FY00 focused primarily on the development of an acceptable combined LFT&E strategy and event design plan for OICW.
TEST & EVALUATION ASSESSMENT
The approved LFT&E strategy for OICW, submitted with the MS I TEMP in February 2000, outlines more than 150 shots against a variety of targets in various environments. Although the proposed LFT&E program appears sufficiently robust at this time, the strategy details will need to be refined and updated when the TEMP is resubmitted at MS II in 3QFY04.
FY00 OBJECTIVE INDIVIDUAL COMBAT WEAPON (OICW)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
